Salinity is a continuing problem in the arid and semi-arid tracts of the world. It could be alleviated
using irrigation management and/or crop management. However, the former approach is outdated and very
expensive. Nevertheless, the latter is economical as well as efficient, and it enables to produce salt tolerant crop
lines. But prior to that there is a need to confirm the presence of genetic based variation for salt tolerance
among different species or varieties of a particular crop that can thrive under unreliable agro-ecological
situations; tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc) Trotter] is one of such crops. Thus fifteen lowland tef genotypes (10
accessions and 5 varieties) were tested with respect to days to heading, days from heading to maturity and days
to maturity at 2, 4, 8 and 16 dS/m salinity levels. Distilled water (0 dS/m) was used as a control. Data analysis
was carried out using SAS package. The analyzed data showed significant variation among all the three
parameters recorded for accessions and varieties (p<0.001) and for treatments (p<0.01). Increased salinity level
caused delayed Days to Heading (DTH), Days from Heading to Maturity (DHTM) and Days to Maturity (DTM)
with a few exceptions. Days to Maturity (DTM) was more salt affected than Days from Heading to Maturity
(DHTM) and Days to Heading (DTH). Accessions 212611 and 205217 were the most salt sensitive and salt
tolerant genotypes respectively. With respect to the parameters investigated, accessions showed broad
intraspecific variation for salt tolerance unlike varieties.

Kinfemichael Geressu Asfaw and Fisseha Itanna Danno, 2011. Effects of Salinity on Days to Heading (DTH), Days from Heading to Maturity (DHTM) and Days to Maturity (DTM) of tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] Accessions and Varieties in Ethiopia.
Asian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 3(4): 250-256.